Marines contribute to unit success in Afghanistan

By TERRY BROWN, Special to the Times Union
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First published: Saturday, April 18, 2009

Two Marines from the Capital Region are contributing to the success of their unit's efforts in the Afghanistan war.

Lance Cpl. Nicholas Monte, son of Kathleen Malizia of Scotia and John Monte of Albany, and Pfc. Brandyn Gaito, son of K.M. and Christopher Gaito of Altamont, are helping their 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment accomplish missions. Their unit is a ground-combat element of a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force.

Monte, Gaito and fellow Marines are performing a variety of missions including the training of Afghanistan national police, combat patrols and searches for insurgents.

The Marines provided support during an Afghanistan police search of a village where they uncovered 150 pounds of explosives materials, a number of rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices.

During other Operation Pathfinder missions, Monte, Gaito and the other Marines discovered numerous enemy caches containing more than 200 pounds of explosives, and weapons along Route 515 in southern Afghanistan. They detained 11 suspected insurgents.

Monte is a 2006 graduate of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School. Gaito is a 2006 graduate of Guilderland High School.

Welcome Marines home

The Schenectady Pipe Band, the Troy Police Band, the USO Liberty the Musical Show Troupe and several other bands will help welcome Marine reservists home after their return from duty in the Iraq war. A parade and celebration will mark the return of 125 Marines of Fox Company of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment at 11 a.m. Sunday along Freemans Bridge Road and at the Holly Marine marina in Glenville. For information, contact Jim Friello of Niskayuna, a Marine veteran and marina owner, at 428-6565. The Marine unit is stationed at a new reserve center in Glenville.

Satellite meteorology

Navy Capt. Kevin Quinn of Colonie has graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., earning a master's degree in meteorology, specializing in satellite meteorology.

Quinn is the officer in charge of satellite operations assigned to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. He is the son of Daniel and Joyce Quinn of Colonie.

Quinn is a 1999 graduate of Colonie Central High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in 2003 from Cornell University, Ithaca.

New Army infantryman

Army Pvt. Jaime Westcott of Schenectady has graduated from Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. He completed basic infantry training and advanced individual training.

He is the son of Erica Perry of Schenectady. Perry is a 2007 graduate of Schenectady High School.

Job fair for vets

The Albany County Veterans Service Bureau is hosting a Veterans Benefits and Employment Fair from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Zaloga American Legion Post at 4 Everett Road, Colonie.

The fair is for veterans and their families. Information on federal, state and local benefits will be available. Veterans also will be able to meet with local employers and federal and state representatives from the state departments of Civil Service and Labor to explore employment and career opportunities.

For information, call the Veterans Service Bureau at 447-7710 or e-mail jpollicino@albanycounty.com or john.cassidy@albanycounty.com.

Soldiers Heart talk

Kate Dahlstedt, a psychotherapist and co-director of Soldiers Heart, will speak at a meeting of the Capital Region No. 2 Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Zaloga American Legion Post, 4 Everett Road, Colonie.

Mothers of active duty military personnel or honorably discharge veterans are welcome. For information on Blue Star Mothers, contact Kay Moody, president, 439-5784. For information on Soldiers Heart, visit http://www.soldiersheart.net.

New Navy commissary

A new Navy commissary is open at the Naval Support Unit at 19 J.F. King Drive, off Route 29, in Saratoga Springs.

The commissary in Scotia has closed. The new store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays.

News of your soldiers and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or by e-mail at brownt@timesunion.com.

Ellie